Renewal:2016-02-03 00:12:05

Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun Gate) 숭례문

  • +82-2-779-8547~8
  • tour.junggu.seoul.kr
40, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

Sungnyemun Gate is Korea’s National Treasure No. 1, and its unofficial name is Namdaemun Gate. Sungnyemun Gate is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. There’s a column on top of a platform, raising the roof, distinguishing the upper stories and lower stories of the building. A passageway for traffic is located at the east and west ends of the gate.

Different from the other gates, Sungnyemun’s tablet has its name written vertically.
When the first king of Joseon Dynasty, Lee Seong-Gye (reign 1335-1408), had constructed the capital city, he believed that fire will reach to Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as the capital city as Mt. Gwanaksan of Seoul is shaped like fire according to feng-shui principles. Sungnyemun’s name means fire, which is from the harmony of the Five Elements and if written vertically, the Chinese character ‘fire’ looks as if it is providing protection. This was Taejong’s (1367-1422) first son, Yangnyeongdaegun’s (1394-1462) famous writing.

On February 10, 2008, Sungnyemun was destroyed by fire. After a 5-year reconstruction work, the gate has been re-opened to the public again as of May 4, 2013.

Utilization information

・Information : • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
• For more info: +82-2-779-8547~8

・Closed : Every Monday

・Operating Hours : 09:00-18:00
June-August: 09:00–18:30
December-February: 09:00-17:30

Admission Fees

Free

Access

Seoul Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 4, Airport Line), Exit 4.
Go 250m forward to arrive at Sungnyemun Gate.

Or

Hoehyeon Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 5.
Turn right from the exit, and then go through the Namdaemun Market for 100m until you reachl the Tourist Information booth. Go one more block until Karl Optical (칼안경).
At Karl Optical, turn left towards Lotte Card building.
Go for 100m until the big road.
Turn right and then go for 50m to arrive at Sungnyemun Gate.

Or

City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 8.
Go 430m straight to arrive at Sungnyemun Gate.

40, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul


Traffic information

  • Subway Line 4 Hoehyeon (Namdaemun Market) (회현(남대문시장))- 307m
  • Subway Line 2 City Hall (시청)- 549.8m
  • Subway Line 1 City Hall (시청)- 549.8m
  • Subway Line A Seoul (서울)- 640.8m
  • Subway Line 1 Seoul (서울)- 640.8m
  • Subway Line 4 Seoul (서울)- 640.8m
  • Subway Line K (서울(경의중앙선))- 651.7m

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